For Immediate Release – Attention:
News Assignment  – Press Conference and Awards Ceremony:
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, 10:00am
Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St., Chicago

Press Contacts: Michael Pitula  773-762-6991  publictransit@lvejo.org | Samuel Villasenor  773-762-6991  cleanpower@lvejo.org | Kimberly Wasserman Nieto  773-656-5099   coordinator@lvejo.org

LVEJO and partner organizations host
Coalymic Games to highlight environmental concerns with the Olympic Bid!

CHICAGO-The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) will be hosting the Coalympics at Chicago’s own Dvorak Park at 1119 W. Cullerton St. on Saturday, the 27^th of September at 10:00am. Across the street from the Fisk Coal Power Smoke Stack to educate attendees on the subject of air quality, public transit and the mayors Climate Action Plan in Chicago and the effect it will have on the city’s chance to successfully bid for the Olympics in 2016. As of August 19^th of 2008, Chicago was notified that it failed to meet the new standards set forth by the USEPA CLEAN AIR to regulate soot.

LVEJO will call on the Mayor and other officials to expand CTA service, close 2 coal-fired power plants on Chicago’s Southwest Side, and create a Renewable Energy Jobs Program by 2010, 6 years in advance of the 2016 Olympics.  The environmental justice organization will present information on the impact these plants will have on Chicago residents, Olympians and spectators.

According to Samuel Villasenor, “more than sixty percent of the proposed venues for the Olympics in Chicago would be within a ten-mile radius of at least one of these two coal power plants”.

“Just as athletes wore air masks in Beijing concerns of there health will be raised if the power plants are not shut down.” The June IOC report questioned “how people would get from rail lines to the large concentration of sports venues planned for the lakefront, saying they were ‘not in close proximity.’” Chicago did not explain how it would increase either bus or train service for the Olympics. LVEJO is calling for CTA to order new “clean air buses.” on existing and new routes such as the proposed 31^st Street route.  The new route will provide access to jobs and the Olympic Village site in what is currently a “transit desert”.

The event will include fun, Olympics-inspired activities with a twist, such as the “Coal Power Plant Hurdle,” where participants will race while jumping over miniature coal power plants instead of regular hurdles. LVEJO will offer information to the public about the organization’s views, ideas, and plans of action. The purpose of this event is to inform the local citizens about Chicago’s air condition, the effect that this air condition has on the health of the general public, and the harm that it may do to the city’s potential bid for the 2016 Olympics. “The City of Chicago cannot soley rely on the Governors Mercury Rule to clean up the plants and fix public transit. Mayor Daley must act as the green mayor and take drastic action to show, Chicago is serious about the environment.”